KIKI SCENE (HOUSE BALLROOM ) YOUTH & YOUNG ADULT BALLROOM MOVEMENT 2002-PRESENT

KIKI Ballroom Scene: An organically grown community intervention created in late November of 2002 during an Annual Thanksgiving Dinner held by the House of Latex Project. Legendary Aisha Diori current Assistant Director Of Health & Wellness at the Hetrick Martin Institute and the late Legendary Arbert Santana created the Kiki scene as an empowerment and prevention tool to target LGBTQ youth and young adults involved in the mainstream House Ball. The Kiki scene is collaboration between HIV/STD Prevention workers and youth collaborators to empower youth & young adults in the ballroom community.  The Kiki scene is a replica of the mainstream ballroom scene but 80% of the time it is tied into a prevention based organization which gives the scene it’s own unique spin. Members of Kiki scene often comprise of current mainstream ballroom members and youthful newcomers (who may not be in the mainstream scene). The Kiki scene has modeled itself into a quasi ballroom social scene with its own houses, balls and status structure.

Aisha Diori saw that there was a need for an intervention that reached out directly to the Youth & Young Adult members in the mainstream ballroom community. A core ideology of the Kiki scene is the utilization of the Peer driven subculture specific model which replicates key concepts for the TEACH Evidence Based Intervention program which she graduated from in 2004. The sole mechanism of the Kiki based programing is to provide a safe space for social and creative work away from negative influences and unhealthy social/familial distractions. The intervention also bridges connectivity to educational and job readiness options, connecting program participants to youth created HIV/STD prevention messaging, facilitating referral if needed for psychosocial and mental health needs, preventative care via HIV/STD testing and connection to medical care. The program is designed to enhance community building and positive interactions through peer support and accountability.

HOUSES, STRUCTURE & STANDARDS

Kiki Houses are organized as family units and comprises of current mainstream ballroom members and youthful newcomers (who may not be in the mainstream scene). These houses operate independent of the mainstream scene and have their own names, although the structure is familial like in the mainstream and has leaders (often mother and father) and “children”. There are approximately about 1,000 + Kiki Affiliated Youth & Young Adults involved in the scene and there are a countless amount of spectators and age range from 12-25 and are predominately YMSM of color. The Kiki scene’s main houses were founded in the New York City Metro Area but are been replicated in other Major US cities and internationally in Canada and Japan. A few Kiki Houses of them have the same name as mainstream houses although they are not affiliated with them. Bellow you will see a list of the current Kiki houses, but with the adaptability and creativity of the leaders and new cohort there are sure to be more house added onto this list a the scene evolves.

1. CARTIER (not affiliated with mainstream house of the same name)

2. CIROQ

3. DEZIRE

4. ECLIPSE

5. ELITE (not affiliated with mainstream house of the same name)

6. GALLIANO (not affiliated with mainstream house of the same name)

7. JUICY COUTURE

8. LOUBOUTIN

9. OLD NAVY

10. PINK LADY

11. PUCCI

12. UNBOTHERED

13. XPRADAGANZA

THE FIRST 2 KIKI HOUSES CREATED IN 2003

LIPTON  & D-BLOCK

GLOSSARY OF KIKI BALLROOM TERMS:

KIKI HOUSE:  A group of youth who get together to mimic a family structure, which includes a mother, a father, and house children. They collectively empower, mentor and participate competitively in events called Kiki functions.

A BALL: A competition-based event that showcases various fashion/talent categories utilizing the framework and culture of pageantry. Participants compete for trophies, gift cards or cash prizes depending on the event promoter.  The categories include Runway, Face, Best Dressed, Realness, Voguing and much more.

COMMENTATOR: A designated host or emcee for the event that maintains the order of the function by facilitating the contestants and categories, as well as engaging the spectators in mild banter. This person is encouraged to use the power and influence of the microphone to spread safer sex and prevention messaging.